The Unspoken Rule

Abby, Ducky, and Jimmy

Abby was insane. Certifiably insane. Why? Because she was self diagnosed. She slept in a coffin and called herself by Good Abby and Evil Abby. Gibbs knew that when he met her and Gibbs didn't mind because she was good at what she did and Gibbs liked that a lot.

Jimmy didn't really talk to Gibbs. He was just the assistant ME. He was still part of Gibbs' team though and Gibbs was still protective of him.

Ducky didn't need to be told. He already knew. He'd been working with Gibbs for far too long to not have at least have an inkling about such things.

"Ah, Abigail would you look into this for me, my dear?" asked Ducky as he and his assistant, Jimmy Palmer, walked into the Forensics Lab.

"Hey, Ducky! Of course I can." She took the proffered bag from the ME and set it on the table. "Hi, Jimmy!" She greeted the ME assistant.

"Hi, Abby." Jimmy replied brightly, looking pale and a bit green around the edges of his face.

"We where preforming an autopsy." Ducky replied to Abby's questioning gaze.

"Which part?" Abby asked, knowing that Jimmy didn't shy away from the disturbing images in the Autopsy Lab, he was actually fascinated by such things (that's part of the reason they got along so well).

"Unfortunately, our poor sailor had just eaten before being poisoned and the results of partially digested meal where still in the intestines. When we where removing them, it fell onto Mr. Palmer's hands and torso. He didn't handle it well." Abby smiled, murmuring "hinky" under her breath, as she signed the offered clipboard with a flourish.

Jimmy's face bloomed in scarlet color. "To be fair, it's the first time I've ever thrown up in my time working with you, Dr. Mallard." He replied, defending himself.

"Yes, Mr. Palmer, and I am exceptionally proud. Not many people could hold themselves with such dignity as you do while cutting into dead corpses and being drenched in half processed human remains." Duck replied, placing an almost fatherly hand on the younger man's shoulders.

Jimmy beamed. "Thank you, Doctor."

"Now, if you're ready we'll go back and complete the Autopsy," Ducky lowered his voice jokingly, "preferably before Gibbs comes down to find we're missing."

Jimmy allowed a short chuckle to pass his lips and he nodded. "Of course, Doctor. Bye, Abby!"

As they turned to leave the lab, Abby waved distractedly, looking through her microscope.

"Abigail, aren't these doors automatic?" Ducky asked, voice confused and irritated.

"Should be, yep." Abby replied.

"Well, they aren't now." Ducky said, a bit of a laugh to his voice.

Abby looked up, furred brows knit together in a way that looked like they'd never come apart. She walked over and when the doors didn't open, Abby waved a hand. "Hello? Open sesame!" she called, clapping twice.

"I'm afraid not." replied a new voice, and a metallic hiss filled the air along with the smell of gasoline. Jimmy was first to notice, followed by Ducky, then Abby.

"What did you do?" Abby asked as Ducky started to cough.

"Gasoline can poison you, if you swallow it. Or breath in too much (1)." The voice repeated.

Jimmy quickly followed Ducky, dissolving into gasping breaths and not enough air, Ducky fell to the ground unconscious. Abby could feel it starting to over take her, so she did they last thing she thought of.

She called Gibbs.

Then the coughing overcame her, followed quickly by the black.

When she opened her eyes, there was a gentle beeping in the air and an oxygen line under her nose.

When she turned her head, Jimmy was laying on another bed and Ducky on his other side.

Upon feeling a tug when she tried to lift her head, she found Gibbs sitting with a book in one hand and his other holding hers.

He was asleep, but he was there.

Abby fell back asleep with the knowledge and comfort that Gibbs was watching over her.

(1) I'm not sure if that actually true or not, but its here, so. Yeah.